Cinematical Seven: Films to Watch on Labor Day

Happy Labor Day! All year long, you've been working hard, meeting deadlines, filing reports, sending emails, crunching numbers and counting up those vacation days, while strategically placing them at certain times throughout the year in order to maximize their potential. Heck, you deserve a day off -- 24 hours of rest, relaxation and a whole lot of nothing.

My favorite kinds of movies to watch on Labor Day are those that remind me why this day is important in the first place -- ya know, why it matters. And, what a better way to do that then to throw in a package of tasty microwave popcorn, slide into those comfy slippers and settle down with a few of your favorite work-related flicks. So, on a day that's dedicated to the American working men and women, how about we celebrate not working by enjoying some of the following films:

His Girl Friday (1940) -- When his ace reporter (and ex-wife) decides to quit her job and marry another man, the editor of a major Chicago newspaper (Cary Grant) begins to pull every trick in the book in an attempt to keep his prize possession from bolting. If you're in the mood for some old school office politics with a hilarious twist, then this Howard Hawks film is definitely the way to go.

Alien (1979) -- Next time you're having a bad day at the office, be glad you're not part of some mining ship exploring distant, alien-infested planets. As Sigourney Weaver and friends find out, a touch of food poisoning is a blessing compared to, well, you know where I'm going with this.

Gung Ho (1986) -- Man, it's films like Gung Ho that make me wonder where the hell Michael Keaton is and why he stopped choosing good roles. When a Japanese firm takes over an American car manufacturer, it's up to Hunt Stevenson to either lie down and forfeit his job or help convince his blue-collar buddies to work through a horrific language barrier and get the job done. Ya gotta love those early Ron Howard comedies, huh?

Working Girl (1988) -- When you start at the bottom, more often that not you're staring at one helluva long way to the top. Well, unless your boss breaks her leg, allowing you to seize the opportunity and show off some of that hidden talent. Working Girl only confirms that Melanie Griffith is, and will always be, the greatest secretary of all time.

Office Space(1999) -- For anyone that's ever worked in a corporate environment, this is the quintessential office flick. Written and directed by Mike Judge, pic revolves around a cubicle drone who, apart from being hypnotized to not care about work anymore, decides to join his two friends and exact revenge upon their company for laying off its employees. Um, yeah -- about those TPS reports ...

Secretary (2002) -- That's right, how can I mention one secretary without the other? Directed by Steven Shainberg, Maggie Gyllenhall is smooth, sexy and cool as Lee Halloway, a woman who returns home in search of employment following a brief stay in a mental hosiptal. After landing a job and developing a crush on her new boss Mr. Grey (James Spader), the two soon find themselves wrapped up in a bizarre relationship chock full of S&M and bondage. Yum.